Mellette County, South Dakota
County & Town Histories
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History of Mellette County
(Transcribed, with permission from the Mellette County Historical Society, from "Mellette County 1911-1961" published by the Mellette County Centennial Committee)
Mellette County was created in 1909 and organized in 1911. The county was named for Arthur C. Mellette, who was the last governor of Dakota Territory and the first governor of the State.
Mellette County, along with Bennett, Gregory, Todd, Tripp and Washabaugh counties, comprising the Rosebud country in early territorial days, belonged to the Sioux tribe of Indians, given them under the terms of a peace treaty in 1868.
Early in 1911 the governor of South Dakota issued a proclamation providing for the first election in Mellette County to be held May 25, 1911.
The first board meeting on record of commissioners of Mellette was on May 31, 1911. The following officers were present: Commissioners: D. L. McLane, chairman; J. A. Siegmund, Reuben Quick Bear. County Officers: Frank J. Cummings, County Auditor; W. E. Hollenback, Register of Deeds; Jesse Brown, Clerk of Courts; Arthur Bordeaux, Coroner; Stephen Estes, Sheriff; H. A. McManus, Judge; Henry Eagle Horse, Constable; Sadie E. Shives, County Superintendent of Schools; Charles S. Hight, Justice of Peace. Sadie E. Shives was appointed County Superintendent on June 16, 1911 after T. J. Utterbeck failed to qualify for the office.
At the 1911 election White River won over Wood for the county seat location.
In October, 1911, 466,562 acres in Mellette County were thrown open to settlement. The prices of this land varied from 25 cents to $6 per acre. During the fall of 1911 thousands of people came to Oalias (Gregory County) and other registering points to have their names listed for a chance on Mellette County farms. The numbers were drawn at Gregory, where the land office was located. After the drawings the fortunate ones had to pick out their homesteads or claims.
In the spring of 1912 the homesteaders began erecting homes. Very often their families were left back east while the building was going on, but in many cases a tent was pitched and the homesteader camped until his new home was completed.
(Transcribed, with permission from the Mellette County Historical Society, from "Mellette County 1911-1961" published by the Mellette County Centennial Committee)
Mellette County was created in 1909 and organized in 1911. The county was named for Arthur C. Mellette, who was the last governor of Dakota Territory and the first governor of the State.
Mellette County, along with Bennett, Gregory, Todd, Tripp and Washabaugh counties, comprising the Rosebud country in early territorial days, belonged to the Sioux tribe of Indians, given them under the terms of a peace treaty in 1868.
Early in 1911 the governor of South Dakota issued a proclamation providing for the first election in Mellette County to be held May 25, 1911.
The first board meeting on record of commissioners of Mellette was on May 31, 1911. The following officers were present: Commissioners: D. L. McLane, chairman; J. A. Siegmund, Reuben Quick Bear. County Officers: Frank J. Cummings, County Auditor; W. E. Hollenback, Register of Deeds; Jesse Brown, Clerk of Courts; Arthur Bordeaux, Coroner; Stephen Estes, Sheriff; H. A. McManus, Judge; Henry Eagle Horse, Constable; Sadie E. Shives, County Superintendent of Schools; Charles S. Hight, Justice of Peace. Sadie E. Shives was appointed County Superintendent on June 16, 1911 after T. J. Utterbeck failed to qualify for the office.
At the 1911 election White River won over Wood for the county seat location.
In October, 1911, 466,562 acres in Mellette County were thrown open to settlement. The prices of this land varied from 25 cents to $6 per acre. During the fall of 1911 thousands of people came to Oalias (Gregory County) and other registering points to have their names listed for a chance on Mellette County farms. The numbers were drawn at Gregory, where the land office was located. After the drawings the fortunate ones had to pick out their homesteads or claims.
In the spring of 1912 the homesteaders began erecting homes. Very often their families were left back east while the building was going on, but in many cases a tent was pitched and the homesteader camped until his new home was completed.
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| Mellette County | Bad Nation | Blackpipe | Butte |
| Cody | Fairview | Mosher | New Surprise Valley |
| Norris | Prospect | Red Fish | Ringthunder |
| Riverside | Rocky Ford | Rosebud | Running Bird |
| Surprise Valley | Cedarbutte | Central Mellette | White River (County Seat) |
| Wood |
County, Townships, Towns and Community History:
Major ancestry groups reported by Mellette County residents include:
| Sioux 50% | German 19% | Irish 8% |
| English 7% | Norwegian 3% | Swedish 3% |
| Czech 2% | Dutch 2% | French 2% |
| Other 4% |
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County Schools and Indian Day Schools:
Putting Mellette County on the Map - Surveying 1910 and 1911
Contributed by Donna Adrian
Most of the land had been surveyed into sections by this time. Charley Larison was a surveyor’s assistant, to find the markers, survey and cross-section each piece of land.
The survey stakes were shipped in on the rail from Valentine, Nebraska. The iron stakes were Government markers, having two hooks on it and poured with cement, so as not to be destroyed easily. Each had a large cross on them, a letter ”N”, marking north then they mark the numbers of the quarter, section, township and range number. This was all done by teams of horses and freight wagons. To guesstimate, they tied a white handkerchief on the wagon wheel and count 240 turns before the next stop.
The government gave the Indians first choice of land before it was opened to homesteading.
Contributed by Donna Adrian
Most of the land had been surveyed into sections by this time. Charley Larison was a surveyor’s assistant, to find the markers, survey and cross-section each piece of land.
The survey stakes were shipped in on the rail from Valentine, Nebraska. The iron stakes were Government markers, having two hooks on it and poured with cement, so as not to be destroyed easily. Each had a large cross on them, a letter ”N”, marking north then they mark the numbers of the quarter, section, township and range number. This was all done by teams of horses and freight wagons. To guesstimate, they tied a white handkerchief on the wagon wheel and count 240 turns before the next stop.
The government gave the Indians first choice of land before it was opened to homesteading.